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Now News Network || Barabati Stadium |
just a few hours left for the opening ceremony
of the Odisha Hockey Mens World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018, the city is in a frenzy
of excitement.
Most of the 16 teams have reached Bhubaneswar and
will play in four pools between November 28 and December 16, officials said.
The Kalinga Stadium, where the colorful inaugural
programme is scheduled to be held and the matches played, is ready with flags
of the participating countries already hoisted.
Director Geveral of Police Rajendra Prasad Sharma on
Monday reviewed the security bandobast said security arrangements have been
made from the airport to the hotels where the teams will be put up and from
there to the stadium.
Stars of the tinsel town are expected to be present
and perform at the inaugural ceremony on Tuesday at the Kalinga Stadium here.
Bollywood actress and well known dancer Madhuri
Dixit Nene arrived here this evening and will perform at the inaugural ceremony,
Odisha sports secretary Vishal Dev told PTI.
She will be performing along with 1,000 artists in a
dance drama called The Earth Song the theme of which is Oneness of Humanity,
the official said.
The dance drama created, written and directed by
Nupur Mahajan will have Madhuri in the role of Mother Earth.
Shah Rukh Khan, who is widely known in the hockey
community for his support for the game, will arrive on Tuesday and leave for
Mumbai immediately after the show, he said.
Odia actors Sabyasachi Mishra and Archita Sahu will
also perform in the inaugural evening.
"Bollywood super star Salman Khan has confirmed
his participation in the second inaugural ceremony at Cuttack on
Wednesday," Dev added.
Famed music director A R Rahman will perform both in
Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, officials said.
Sharma said that traffic movement would be
restricted during the Hockey World Cup.
Speaking about the deployment of police for the mega
event, he said there will be more than 50 police officers above the rank of the
deputy superintendent of police in various supervisory roles. There will be
inspectors, sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors.
"In total, we
have deployed more than 300 police officers on duty. As many as 75 platoons
(one platoon comprise 30 personel) of the police will be on duty," he
added.